My mother to this day will tell you that I was not fat growing up. There are pictures in my book that prove otherwise…Oh the love of a mother. Fat gene or skinny gene…it’s a roll of the genetic dice that I lost. I believe that it was my mother’s point of view that inevitably gave me mine. I have a very good friend that has struggled with her weight since childhood too but she has told me before how her mother would make negative comments about her weight rather than being supportive. I think she has bitter feelings about being fat directly related to this. I know that given the opportunity to be left alone with little Johnny who did not pick her for the kickball team in the fifth grade – because she was the “fat kid” – it could get a little messy….and not for her. My mother never harped at me about my weight or told me I was fat. According to her I was just “big-boned.” To me I was fat. Today I am fat. I am not angry about, mad at anybody because of it, and know that there are reasons for it but also know that even as I lose weight I will never be skinny. And I do not want to be skinny. I was not born to be a skinny chick even if my doctor tells me that at my height of 5’6” and large frame I should weigh something like 130. Sorry, that is never going to happen – it is a physical improbability!

In Making Light of Being Heavy there are pictures of me at around 170 my senior year in high school. I had dieted like mad to get into a dress that I bought for senior prom and I was “skinny.” I can remember my dad coming up beside me at the dinner table one night pointing out my shoulder bone and hip bone and telling me to stop with the dieting. But according to the weight guidelines I was obese!

People should find a comfortable weight for them and consider that their weight guideline and just smile politely at their doctor who whips out the chart that says otherwise. A person’s main focus should be that they are healthy. I may be fat but I am healthy. People will ask how that is possible… if I am fat I must automatically be unhealthy. I am 44 and even though I am considered in the medical field “obese,” I do not have high blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, varicose veins, joint problems, etc. Am I just lucky?

With a bunch of butt shots with measurements (yes I said measurements!) coming up to the slow rocking beat of stripper music, my video Fat Chicks and Unfriendly Chairs definitely has the market cornered on making light of being heavy 🙂 Making Light of Being Heavy is a comical book with opinions and observations from a fat chick’s point of view that puts an unexpected and funny spin on dealing with the fat gene!

Making Light of Being Heavy was inspired by my daily life as a fat chick. Specifically, one summer day a friend and I were in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, with our kids just walking along the sidewalk when this young athletic guy driving a pedicab (a ride that is driven by a person on a bike) pulls along side us waiting for a light. I looked over at him and asked him with a smile, “Hey cutie, what’s the weight limit on that ride?” Now both my friend and I topped out at over 300 pounds each so you can just imagine what this 160-pound guy must be thinking! He looked at us as though he was trying to come up with a “safe” figure to not hurt our feelings and with a confident grin said “500 pounds.” I jokingly laughed with my friend and said that we wouldn’t be getting a ride on that anytime soon!

As we were walking away, my friend commented on how cool it would be to write a book about the funny side of being fat. Now, of course, this is all perception but I have always had a great sense of humor and I started recalling incidents in the past that I laughed about, specifically regarding my weight. When I started writing Making Light of Being Heavy and adding my perspective, I realized that this might actually help some women to have a different outlook on their struggles with weight as being fat is already hard enough with all the negativity that comes along with it. One of my friends read my rough draft and commented that it was a great self-esteem booster and how it also provided a lot of insight into the life of a fat chick that she was not expecting. It made me feel good to know that if I could just get this book out there, it might actually help some women. So then it began – my goal to get the book published.

This book may be a quick read, but with a little bit of humor and a lot of realty it sure does pack a punch!

With a bunch of butt shots with measurements (yes I said measurements!) coming up to the slow rocking beat of stripper music, my video Fat Chicks and Unfriendly Chairs definitely has the market cornered on making light of being heavy 🙂 Making Light of Being Heavy is a comical book with opinions and observations from a fat chick’s point of view that puts an unexpected and funny spin on dealing with the fat gene!

The article starts out by asking, “Are you a reluctant dieter?” What kind of question is that? Is there anybody out there that likes being on a diet?

“The researchers said the idea that weight is harmful has been “exaggerated” and people who are little heavier may actually live longer. The California University (CU) study that looked at about 350,000 people in the US also suggested that the obese put their health in greater danger when they obsessively try to slim down.”

“It recommended that people should eat a varied and balanced diet, and take “enjoyable” amounts of exercise — even if they still end up carrying a few extra pounds. The researchers also noted that society’s obsession with dieting is “ineffective” and often leads to people becoming fatter as they crave food and binge, the Daily Mail reported.”

As a professional dieter and fat expert myself, this article comes as no surprise to me. I know I am fat but I also know I am healthy. The article refers to society’s obsesssion with dieting but the real bottom line is society’s obsession with what is considered “normal.” This is what is most aggravating. Who creates the “normal” guidelines anyway? We are all familiar with the ones from the doctor’s office that say if you are this tall, this age, and have this body structure you should be this weight. Really? If that were true then everybody would look the same and how “normal” would that be?

With a bunch of butt shots with measurements (yes I said measurements!) coming up to the slow rocking beat of stripper music, my video Fat Chicks and Unfriendly Chairs definitely has the market cornered on making light of being heavy 🙂 Making Light of Being Heavy is a comical book with opinions and observations from a fat chick’s point of view that puts an unexpected and funny spin on dealing with the fat gene!

“Lose weight by eating Twinkies…The Junk Food Diet?” – According to this article, Mark Haub lost 27 pounds in eight weeks by eating basically a diet in which two-thirds of his food intake included nothing but junk food like Twinkies, Little Debbiesnacks, etc. He maintained an 1,800 calorie diet which also included one protein shake, a multivitamin, a can of green beans, and a few stalks of celery. So the protein shake, celery, and can of green beans probably totalled about 320 calories so that means approximately 1,480 calories was made up of sweets. Generally speaking, Little Debbie snacks range in calories from 170 to 310 so he ate about six of these snacks during the day. His cholesterol actually lowered several points during this eight weeks too if you can believe it.

I am not really sure of the point of this particular diet, unless it was to show that it does not matter what your caloric intake actually consists of, but just limit your caloric intake and you will still lose weight. I guess he offset the obvious unhealthy aspect of the diet with the protein shakes, veggies, and multivitamin which would make sense. However…

All I have to say is – Yuck. Little Debbie snacks and sweets like that certainly would not be my choice of junk food following an 1,800 junk food diet…more like Ben & Jerry’s New York Super Fudge Chunk which is 310 calories per serving, which of course means a whopping calorie count of 1,240 for the pint. Please tell me who actually cracks open a pint of Ben & Jerry’s and eats only a half a cup??

With a bunch of butt shots with measurements (yes I said measurements!) coming up to the slow rocking beat of stripper music, my video Fat Chicks and Unfriendly Chairs definitely has the market cornered on making light of being heavy 🙂 Making Light of Being Heavy is a comical book with opinions and observations from a fat chick’s point of view that puts an unexpected and funny spin on dealing with the fat gene!

As I mentioned earlier in my blog, the virtual book tour went very well this past November and December with several good reviews. My intention for my book Making Light of Being Heavy was to provide a funny and positive look at life as a fat chick. To put it simply, this book is observations and opinions from a fat chick’s point of view. Nowadays it seems like everyone’s way of thinking is society driven and is based on what they see in the media, or years and years of incorrect assumptions with which, of course, comes lots of negativity. It is really great to hear from reviewers that totally appreciated my perspective. I know that for many women, having a sense of humor is hard to pull off when you are fat – but I hope my book helps, even just a little bit, by putting a smile on their face and perhaps a new outlook in their daily struggles with weight.

Jennifer from Rundpinne states, “Frank, honest, witty and to the point, Making Light of Being Heavy by Kandy Siahaya takes a closer look at life and what it is like to be fat (yes, it is okay to use the term fat, see page 55). Siahaya debunks many myths and misconceptions that float around such as those who are fat must be ignorant, lazy, unmotivated, with low self-esteem. Through humour, personal experiences and research, Siahaya writes frankly about her life, diets, exercise, the worst things people have said and done and ultimately shows the reader that she is a strong woman who is happy to be who she is. How many people, regardless of shape can honestly say they love themselves for who they are, just as they are? The diet industry would not be so powerful and wealthy if people accepted themselves. Siahaya is not recommending a life of non-exercise and unhealthy habits, rather she is merely stating that one can be fit and fat and still be happy. I found myself laughing along with Siahaya and so very pleased she decided to share her thoughts, insights, and experiences with the world. I would recommend Making Light of Being Heavy to all readers, and maybe, more understanding, tolerance, and acceptance will be the result.”

With a bunch of butt shots with measurements (yes I said measurements!) coming up to the slow rocking beat of stripper music, my video Fat Chicks and Unfriendly Chairs definitely has the market cornered on making light of being heavy 🙂 Making Light of Being Heavy is a comical book with opinions and observations from a fat chick’s point of view that puts an unexpected and funny spin on dealing with the fat gene!

So I have successfully completed two weeks of the Scarsdale Diet and have lost 14 more pounds. Yay!! Getting closer and closer to my goal. I have given myself smaller goals to achieve like getting to 20 pounds. It is funny though, even though I have lost over 50 pounds, people who see me all the time I don’t think are even noticing….What I think it is is that they see me as fat anyway and since I am still fat I must still just look like the same ol’ Kandy who is fat. On the flip side though, I have run into a few people who I have not seen in several months and they have definitely noticed. It sure feels good when they tell you how great you look. A little validation certainly goes a long way in this business of dieting.

Recently I came across an article called “Does Being Thin Mean Being Happy?” http://www.iol.co.za/lifestyle/does-being-thin-mean-being-happy-1.684609 The assumption is that being slim is the path to happiness. According to Dr. Pam Spur, psychologist, a woman’s weight has more impact on her personal happiness than her love life. Her 24-year study of thousands of people found that obesity leads to more misery and suffering than being single, while being thin provides more satisfaction than in a relationship. I would like to know who she has been interviewing. She should have called me – I am a fat chick with a great love life that has been single, happy, and fat for many years enjoying every day of it!

Next month in November my book Making Light of Being Heavy will be on a virtual book tour and I will be posting updates with reviews and interviews. I am still working on the book trailer but hoping to have it complete for the book tour as well.

So according to an article on Lemondrop (Exactly How Long Can A Woman Actually Resist A Klondike Bar) , the average woman can last 19 days on a diet before cheating. The article failed to mention which attempt at a diet this actually was….if it was the first attempt in a while then probably 19 days is just a tad bit exaggerated. Usually for me it will take a coupe of attempts before the diet will really stick at which point I usually try to do a two‑week on and then a few days to a week off and then two-week on sort of routine so you actually see an end in sight which is easier to follow through with then a never-ending diet. The Scarsdale diet has always been a favorite of mine and works without a doubt the best. I detailed this diet in my book, Making Light of Being Heavy.

The article also mentions that the dieter will spend on average $250 on dieting paraphernalia including workout clothes, exercise equipment, magazines, books, gym memberships, etc. prior to the begin of a diet three times a year. Again, not true for this professional dieter. My main focus when I am going to be starting a diet is what I am NOT going to be able to eat for two weeks at which point I will promptly indulge in exactly that. For all of us who are professional dieters, we already have the books, the clothes, the equipment, and so on. Heck, we have had it for years and if these other women are spending $250 each time they start a diet then they are just plain crazy. As a professional dieter, my main goal is to get geared up for the diet letting myself know that I will not be missing a thing because I just ate it and, besides, two weeks is definitely doable. If I do happen to buy a new piece of exercise equipment it will be a new hula hoop for $3.99 at Walmart because my current one has a kink in it!

Until next time, keep laughing!

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